Mireya Porto of Bridgeport looks at her car, a 2002 Honda Accord, that was totalled in an accident with Bridgeport state representative candidate Christina Ayala on North Avenue in Bridgeport on Wednesday. Porto's daughter, Krystal Velez, was driving the car.

Mireya Porto of Bridgeport looks at her car, a 2002 Honda Accord, that was totalled in an accident with Bridgeport state representative candidate Christina Ayala on North Avenue in Bridgeport on Wednesday. Porto's daughter, Krystal Velez, was driving the car.

Mireya Porto of Bridgeport looks at her car, a 2002 Honda Accord, that was totalled in an accident with Bridgeport state representative candidate Christina Ayala on North Avenue in Bridgeport on Wednesday. Porto's daughter, Krystal Velez, was driving the car.

State House candidate Christina Ayala and her lawyer Guy P. Soares appear in Superior Court in Bridgeport on Monday, September 11, 2012. Ayala is facing charges after police siad she fled the scene of an accident the night of August 15.

State House candidate Christina Ayala, right, is approached by reporters after exiting Superior Court in Bridgeport on Monday, September 11, 2012. Ayala is facing charges after police siad she fled the scene of an accident the night of August 15.
Photo: Brian A. Pounds

State House candidate Christina Ayala appears in Superior Court in Bridgeport on Monday, September 11, 2012. Ayala is facing charges after police siad she fled the scene of an accident the night of August 15.
Photo: Brian A. Pounds

BRIDGEPORT -- State House candidate Christina Ayala's first court appearance on charges that she fled the scene of an accident took five minutes Tuesday morning.

Wearing a black business suit, Ayala emerged from a crowd standing at the back of the tiny courtroom at state Superior Court on Golden Hill Street, and stood next to her attorney, Guy Soares. The lawyer asked Judge John Cronan to continue the case until Oct. 16 "for further investigation." Ayala did not speak. Soares declined to elaborate outside the courtroom on the nature of the investigation.

Ayala was charged with evading responsibility, failure to obey a traffic signal and failure to renew her vehicle's registration in connection with the Aug. 15 accident, a day after she won the Democratic primary to run for the General Assembly in the 128th District.

Police said she fled the scene of the accident with two minors in her car. The driver of the other vehicle, Krystal Velez, had indicated to the prosecutor that she wanted to address the court, but when her name was called, no one responded.

Ayala rushed out the rear door of the courthouse, declining to answer a re porter's questions. She was accompanied by her mother, court personnel said.

The two women walked quickly up Lyon Terrace to the municipal parking lot behind City Hall. When a reporter asked Ayala if she thought it was fair for her to remain in the race, she responded "have a wonderful day."

According to a police accident summary, Ayala was driving a 2007 Nissan Sentra with a 13-year-old and a 7-year-old on board when it collided with a 2002 Honda Accord driven by Velez, 26, of Bridgeport. Police said both cars had heavy front-end damage and both were later towed away.

Police said Ayala fled the accident scene and was eventually flagged down at the corner of Brooklawn Avenue and Laurel Place by a person who had witnessed the accident and pursued Ayala. The distance between the accident location and where Ayala stopped is about six blocks. Ayala, 29, told police that she left the scene because a man yelled at her and she was scared.

"I would like to formally apologize for my actions following Wednesday evening's traffic accident with Ms. Velez," Ayala said in a statement a day later. "We collided at an intersection and unfortunately I panicked. We both had insurance and I am asking my insurance representative to handle this in the most expedient manner to deal with any losses. I wish the best for Ms. Velez and regret my misjudgment."

Ayala is the daughter of Democratic Registrar of Voters Santa Ayala and the cousin of state Rep. Andres Ayala. Andres Ayala is the sitting representative in the 128th District, but is vacating the seat to pursue the state Senate seat in the 23rd District. He defeated incumbent Ed Gomes and former state Sen. Ernest Newton in a three-way primary.